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"Y U Do This?" (Answering your questions!)
8 years ago
This has been a very common question, worded many different ways, that have been occurring over the past few weeks as my followers have grown and I have uploaded longer and more animations. I wanted to address a lot of these, in the hopes I can clear some things up. These are all from a variety of sources, including comments, notes, and other chats and is not meant to call out any individuals.
"Why are you using Mega for your uploads? Why not Dropbox or Google Drive?"
I've explained this before, but allow me to elaborate. Mega allows me to upload, store, and allow access to anyone with a link (and decryption key) to download the files I have uploaded without being able to preview due to the site's encryption. I had started with Google Drive, but have had several of my videos removed, without my consent, starting with the Spidey-Grow video and several others that caused dead links and headaches. I also only have 15gb of space available to upload per account without paying. To avoid this, I tried using Dropbox, which is great, but only allows 2gb of space available without having to pay a $10/month fee for 1tb of space. So I settled with Mega, which allows me a free TB of storage and easy sharing. The catch is that there is no preview, and big files must be viewed with the mobile Mega app or on a desktop. I apologize for the issues, but I cannot validate $120 a year. However, I have started to use Microsoft OneDrive for your viewing convenience, and so far has been working great.
"Why don't you animate (this obscure character) or (this specific body part)"?
Since I am not currently making my own 3D models, all of the models I use must be available in the community for download from the SFM Workshop, SFMlabs, or another site. As such, if someone has not designed a character and made it publicly available, I cannot animate it. Simple as that. In terms of having a specific body part or object, many objects and models are made to be manipulated in a certain way and not beyond it. Shifting too much will make the models lose quality, create square shapes on joints, have textures overlap, or joints pinch. If you imagine an arm like a cardboard tube, too much tweaking can make it resemble the tube once you start sword fighting with it too hard and it becomes a useless flimsy tool.
"The link is broken/the file won't download!"
There is a 99% chance it is not, or if it is, I am currently uploading a new version with a new link. I check the links before I post (because I'm paranoid), and if you're having issues with the video after you have downloaded it, I can assure you it is on your side. I export all the original files as MP4 H.265 formats so they may be transferred to Flash more easily, so you may have to check which video player you are using. As I stated above, some links may not work on mobile and require your desktop. You may have to transfer the files to a different format if you wish to desire them on your mobile, but with so many different formats and sizes, I don't have the time to do that myself for everyone.
"Why haven't you animated my request yet?"
It's a request, not a commission. If I see a request I really like and have the time to do, I will indulge in it. There is no promise of me working on yours. I am a full-time student and part-time worker, so this is not my day job. If there is an animation you would love to see and want it to be done without any issues, I have commission slots available, and by paying your animation becomes a priority and I will make it.
"Do you animate ******* doing ***** with a **** ******?"
Short answer, yes. I am open to new ideas and challenges, and if you have specific questions or ideas send me a note. There are aspects I will not animate or am not able to animate due to the software restrictions, but it's better to ask then to not since I am still learning as well.
"Why does it cost that much? It's just a 30 second animation/couple page comic/etc etc!"
A typical 30 second animation can take me anywhere from 8 hours to 20 hours to animate depending on the complexity, characters, script, effects, sounds, and more. A typical drawing requires a sketch, refined sketch, line art, color, blending, shading, background, effects, and more. You are not only paying for the finished piece, but the work that goes into it. I do not charge highly for my work hours, but I do bring into consideration the value of my time and what other priorities and work I am giving up as I work.
If you have any specific other questions, feel free to comment below or send me a note. Thanks!
"Why are you using Mega for your uploads? Why not Dropbox or Google Drive?"
I've explained this before, but allow me to elaborate. Mega allows me to upload, store, and allow access to anyone with a link (and decryption key) to download the files I have uploaded without being able to preview due to the site's encryption. I had started with Google Drive, but have had several of my videos removed, without my consent, starting with the Spidey-Grow video and several others that caused dead links and headaches. I also only have 15gb of space available to upload per account without paying. To avoid this, I tried using Dropbox, which is great, but only allows 2gb of space available without having to pay a $10/month fee for 1tb of space. So I settled with Mega, which allows me a free TB of storage and easy sharing. The catch is that there is no preview, and big files must be viewed with the mobile Mega app or on a desktop. I apologize for the issues, but I cannot validate $120 a year. However, I have started to use Microsoft OneDrive for your viewing convenience, and so far has been working great.
"Why don't you animate (this obscure character) or (this specific body part)"?
Since I am not currently making my own 3D models, all of the models I use must be available in the community for download from the SFM Workshop, SFMlabs, or another site. As such, if someone has not designed a character and made it publicly available, I cannot animate it. Simple as that. In terms of having a specific body part or object, many objects and models are made to be manipulated in a certain way and not beyond it. Shifting too much will make the models lose quality, create square shapes on joints, have textures overlap, or joints pinch. If you imagine an arm like a cardboard tube, too much tweaking can make it resemble the tube once you start sword fighting with it too hard and it becomes a useless flimsy tool.
"The link is broken/the file won't download!"
There is a 99% chance it is not, or if it is, I am currently uploading a new version with a new link. I check the links before I post (because I'm paranoid), and if you're having issues with the video after you have downloaded it, I can assure you it is on your side. I export all the original files as MP4 H.265 formats so they may be transferred to Flash more easily, so you may have to check which video player you are using. As I stated above, some links may not work on mobile and require your desktop. You may have to transfer the files to a different format if you wish to desire them on your mobile, but with so many different formats and sizes, I don't have the time to do that myself for everyone.
"Why haven't you animated my request yet?"
It's a request, not a commission. If I see a request I really like and have the time to do, I will indulge in it. There is no promise of me working on yours. I am a full-time student and part-time worker, so this is not my day job. If there is an animation you would love to see and want it to be done without any issues, I have commission slots available, and by paying your animation becomes a priority and I will make it.
"Do you animate ******* doing ***** with a **** ******?"
Short answer, yes. I am open to new ideas and challenges, and if you have specific questions or ideas send me a note. There are aspects I will not animate or am not able to animate due to the software restrictions, but it's better to ask then to not since I am still learning as well.
"Why does it cost that much? It's just a 30 second animation/couple page comic/etc etc!"
A typical 30 second animation can take me anywhere from 8 hours to 20 hours to animate depending on the complexity, characters, script, effects, sounds, and more. A typical drawing requires a sketch, refined sketch, line art, color, blending, shading, background, effects, and more. You are not only paying for the finished piece, but the work that goes into it. I do not charge highly for my work hours, but I do bring into consideration the value of my time and what other priorities and work I am giving up as I work.
If you have any specific other questions, feel free to comment below or send me a note. Thanks!
Patreon
RecursiveSweatpants
~recursivesweatpants
Do you have Adobe Premiere or the Adobe Media Encoder? You can make your video files drastically smaller without losing any quality with them.
Mietere
~mietere
OP
Technically yes? It still comes down to the point that a couple medium files will fill up something like Dropbox way to quickly and I will not use Google Drive in the fear of my videos being removed without my consent once again.
RecursiveSweatpants
~recursivesweatpants
I'm not saying that to try to get you to go back to Drive or Dropbox. I'm just saying that smaller filesizes when possible are nicer in general. The Enromous Elite video is over a gigabyte but I was able to get it down to 214 megs just by running it through the Media Encoder with the default settings.
Mietere
~mietere
OP
I'll look into it when I have more free time. Thanks for the suggestion.
